The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has sent its recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the removal of Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal as the chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances over the 2021 video scandal following the alleged victim Tayyaba Gul’s recent appearance before the body.
Earlier, Tayyaba Gul, who was allegedly a part of the video leak controversy involving the former chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), appeared before the PAC.
“I met Iqbal during a meeting regarding missing persons. My number was written on the request filed for the missing person, and he [Iqbal] kept calling me time and again,” she said.
“I recorded Iqbal because he was a very powerful official and I wanted to expose him,” she added.
She said Iqbal had filed a Rs20 million reference against her. “I was not issued a call-up notice nor was an inquiry conducted.”
She further said that she was arrested by the officials of NAB Lahore after she had an argument with Iqbal over the phone.
She also alleged that the NAB Lahore DG had stripped her naked and filmed her before blackmailing Iqbal with the video.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the PAC chairman said: “A lot of good people work in NAB […] but when wolves enter an institution, they need to be removed and pointed out. If he does not show up again, then I will issue a warrant for Javed Iqbal.”
The chairman added that the committee has recommended the removal of Iqbal from the commission until the matter is decided.
It’s not surprising that there are voices condemning his wrongdoings that were as visible as horns for such a long time. However, Imran who was the PM at the time enjoys the halo effect and no finger has been pointed at him. He as PM was complicit in suppressing inquiry while being fully aware and victims were held at PM house with complete evidence. Unfortunately this speaks volumes about the mask that he wears. If Javed Iqbal is the predator than the PM was his protector. This indictment does not look good for ammer ul momeneen who chose to turn a blind eye in riyasat-e-Madina. Let’s drop this facade of the false morality as it was just an Islami touch!